Ukraine protesters vacate city hall after 3 months of occupation

By Victoria Butenko, CNN

Updated 6:40 AM ET, Mon February 17, 2014

Photos: Ukraine protests turn deadly88 photos

Ukraine protests turn deadly – Protesters in Kiev, Ukraine, clash with police in Independence Square on Wednesday, February 19. Thousands of anti-government demonstrators have packed the square since November, when President Viktor Yanukovych reversed a decision on a trade deal with the European Union and instead turned toward Russia.

Hide Caption

1 of 88

Photos: Ukraine protests turn deadly88 photos

Ukraine protests turn deadly – Protesters clash with police in Kiev on February 19. The unrest in Ukraine intensified after an anti-protest law went into effect in January. Demonstrators took to the streets to protest the law, which was later repealed.

Ukraine protests turn deadly – A protester rushes through a broken door in the regional prosecutor's office in Lviv, Ukraine, on February 19. Police said the unrest has spread to western Ukraine, with protesters attacking police and local government offices in a number of regions.

Hide Caption

23 of 88

Photos: Ukraine protests turn deadly88 photos

Ukraine protests turn deadly – Protesters in Lviv burn papers from a government building on February 19.

Hide Caption

24 of 88

Photos: Ukraine protests turn deadly88 photos

Ukraine protests turn deadly – A protester aims a weapon in Kiev on Tuesday, February 18.

Ukraine protests turn deadly – Protesters stand guard inside the Ukraine Justice Ministry in Kiev on January 27. Demonstrators later left the building because they didn't want to create any difficulties in negotiations between the government and opposition, a protest leader said. Protesters repositioned themselves outside and blocked access to the building, the leader said.

Hide Caption

54 of 88

Photos: Ukraine protests turn deadly88 photos

Ukraine protests turn deadly – Orthodox priests lead the funeral service for slain protester Mikhail Zhiznevsky in Kiev on Sunday, January 26.

Hide Caption

55 of 88

Photos: Ukraine protests turn deadly88 photos

Ukraine protests turn deadly – Riot police officers stand in line during anti-government protests in Kiev on Saturday, January 25.

Story highlights

In exchange, the government will drop charges against arrested protesters

Ukraine is mired in a political crisis that has led to the Prime Minister's resignation

The opposition wants more concessions from the government

Ukrainian protesters vacated the capital's city hall Sunday in exchange for the government dropping charges against arrested demonstrators, an official said.

Protesters vacated city hall, unblocked a major street and left other government buildings as part of an amnesty deal calling for the opposition to vacate government buildings in Kiev, opposition parliament member Arsen Avakov said.

They had occupied the city hall for nearly three months.

Protesters will remain outside city hall and will not allow police inside, he said. The opposition plans to hold a rally Sunday morning.

Ukraine is mired in a political crisis that has led to the Prime Minister's resignation.

JUST WATCHED

Protest leader says he was 'crucified'

MUST WATCH

JUST WATCHED

Activist reappears, beaten and bloodied

MUST WATCH

Activist reappears, beaten and bloodied03:07

PLAY VIDEO

Thousands of demonstrators have packed Kiev's Independence Square since November, when President Viktor Yanukovych reversed a decision to sign a trade deal with the European Union and instead turned toward Russia.

Violent confrontations flared after a sweeping anti-protest law was signed weeks ago, and an uneasy standoff remains on the streets.

Despite concessions such as the deal, Ukraine's opposition parties continue to call for constitutional reforms to shift power away from the president.

Ukraine, a country of 45 million people, is split between pro-European regions in the West and a more Russia-oriented East.

Its leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on a $15 billion deal for Russia to buy Ukrainian debt and slash the price of natural gas.

Yanukovych has resisted calls for him to step down and defended the government's handling of the political crisis.